HP just unleashed a couple of new notebooks earlier today, including their new 16- and 18-inch HDX units, just in time for the holiday season. We were able to spend some time with HP’s Kevin Wentzel to get a look at the entire consumer notebook lineup for this holiday season. It features the aforementioned HDX, a new HP Imprint finish for the dv5 and dv7 Pavilions, and their tablet as well. These things are affordable, and some are even powerful enough to replace your desktop at this point. In fact, we also have a look at HP’s notebook docking station as well, which fits right in with that line of thinking.

Hit the video for the full scoop on everything, and try not to droll over those hot-looking HDXs, mkay?

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IDEO and Project Inkwell have come up with their own answer to the OLPC with the Spark. It utilizes wireless networking and combines characteristics of both a laptop and desktop. Designed for students in grades K-12, the PC features a wireless mouse, slim keyboard, and a zipper pocket for a spare battery. We don’t care who is making or selling more of the inexpensive computers, we are simply glad that they just keep coming.

Over the past few months, I’ve been answering questions submitted by the masses, alongside the likes of writers from Boing Boing, HotHardware, OhGizmo!, ArsTechnica, and more. Toshiba sponsors the site (and also sponsors Gear Live, for the record), which has been something I’ve enjoyed being a part of since it launched. I wanted to share this destination with you, in case you guys happened to have notebook questions that you were having a difficult time getting answered. The site is called Laptop Experts, feel free to look us up and submit your queries. One of us will be happy to help!

Oh, and be sure to check out the Laptop Experts Widget, which lets you have access to the site’s features from your desktop.

We were able to get our hands on one of the new HP TouchSmart computers recently, and were very impressed by what we saw - especially when compared to the original TouchSmart that we saw back at CES 2007. We unbox the new TouchSmart in this episode, showing off the new, sleek form factor, along with all the new wireless accessories that HP has designed to compliment the experience.

What we love most about it, aside from the cool touch screen implementation, is the fact that it is a full featured, powerful computer. Typically, all-in-one computers like these have been underpowered. Not so with the TouchSmart, which is chock-full of RAM (4GB), hard drive space (500 GB), 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS HD graphics card, and Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit edition. It even has an integrated ATSC & NTSC TV tuner with PVR and remote.

Dell has announced 2 new Precision laptops and 6 new Latitudes aimed at the business crowd.The Precisions start at $1,449.00 and their M2400 weighs a mere 4.77 lbs. The Latitudes are available in five different colors and the company claims better battery life. They start at a price of $869.00. The E4300 weighs about 3.3 lbs., making it their lightest, and the E6400 ATG meets military standards for dust, humidity, and vibration. All but two of the Latitudes are available now.

India has agreed to work on the planet’s cheapest laptop. The Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Purandeswari says that the country will try to develop $10.00 units for school kids. Back in 2006, the Indian Government decided not to go for the OLPC program but seems to have changed its mind. The project will be funded by the Reliance Anil Dhirubahi Group and will launch in Maharashtra’s Khairat village. They are hoping to cover about 25,000 towns 6,000 villages by the end of this year.

Olens Technology’s XPJ Projector is a digital video projector that can be used with gaming systems, home computers, and for watching DVDs and VHS Tapes. The PEP (Personal Entertainment Projector) is portable and can project an image from 40 to 70-inches with a resolution of 640 X 480 pixels (VGA.) It features built-in stereo speakers and an audio-out jack allows sound system connection. The XPJ comes with a VGA connector, AV composite and s-video ports, an RCA audio/video cable, a remote, and an extra 270 W lamp. Its MSRP is $279.99.

It would appear that Dell is teaming with Wallyworld to create Solution Station, a service to help the electronically challenged. Help is offered for setting up PCs, TVs, wireless networks, entertainment centers, etc. Wal-mart plans to offer their service in the Dallas area in about 15 stores this month. Don’t try to pull a fast one on them as they only deal with “Dell and other branded systems.” Think of it as a bargain basement Geek Squad.

Dell has decided to get in on the Internet sales force with their new Best of Web site. Offering discounts, it includes categories of shopping, travel, games, music, movies, interaction, sharing and learning. The deal here is that if you are a Dell customer, you get a discount of up to 50% on purchases from Kodak, Wild Games, and Blockbuster, etc. While we are not all that impressed with the site for the general user, take a peek if you own a Dell. It certainly is not be convincing enough to buy our next computer from the company.